Kamala Harris Gives Moving Speech at NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP hosted the 56th NAACP Image Awards this past weekend, celebrating Black excellence and cultural impact across industries.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was honored with this year’s Chairman’s Award, which is presented by the organization to recognize individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to social justice, civil rights or other areas that align with the NAACP’s mission. The award was first introduced in 1989 and has since been a prestigious honor in acknowledging exceptional achievements.

Award recipients are selected for their track record in public service, advocacy and efforts to improve the well-being of marginalized communities. Past honorees include the late former U.S. Representative and civil rights activist, John Lewis, as well as Cicely Tyson, Muhammad Ali and LeBron James.

As Harris took to the stage to accept her award, she gave a moving speech to the show’s attendees and Black people across the country, reiterating that we’ve seen times like this before and we must do what we’ve always done.

“We use our power,” said Harris. “We organize, mobilize. We educate, and we advocate because you see, our power has never come from an easy path. Our strength flows from our faith – faith in God, faith in each other and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary.”

She goes on to say that the Americam story will be written by the people, not by who’s controlling the Oval Office or who’s the wealthiest.

Check out Harris’ full speech below: